It is a hot summer day, you just had fun playing outside, and now you are sweaty and exhausted. There is nothing in the world that you want more than a beautiful, shiny bottle of water. “Gulp, gulp, gulp.” As the refreshing water goes down your throat, you feel completely relieved and happy! However, water does much more than just quench your thirst. In addition to keeping you hydrated, water is responsible for regulating your body temperature and keeping your body functioning properly. Water is an essential substance for survival and health. Our bodies are made up of ~60% water! But have you ever thought that the water you drink may be contaminated with something that can harm your health? Something invisible and tasteless, and that you might not even realize is there? So, before quenching your thirst, take a few minutes to read this article!

Biological Contamination in Bottled Water

One factor that may make bottled water unsafe for drinking is biological contamination. Biological contamination means the presence of tiny organisms such as bacteria, which can harm people or the environment. Biological contamination may result from contaminated water sources or inadequate water treatment.

Each country has its own rules regulating water quality, and these rules vary widely. Despite water quality rules, tests have found bacteria above the allowed amounts in the bottled water of several countries! When bottled water fails quality testing, it is rejected and cannot be sold. Figure 1 shows the results of water quality testing in several countries. In some countries, like Lebanon and Ghana, most bottled water is rejected because of biological contamination.

Chemical Contamination in Bottled Water

We say that chemical contamination occurs when water contains chemicals that can harm us or the environment. Many chemical contaminants can be found in drinking water [6]. In this article, we will focus on a specific group of contaminants called endocrine disruptors.

To understand why endocrine disrupters are so dangerous, you must first understand what the endocrine system is. The endocrine system is important for coordinating the functioning of the entire body. The organs of the endocrine system produce various hormones, which are important substances that act as messengers, traveling through the body to activate various cells. Each hormone has a different function: one will make you grow, another will make you sleep, and others are responsible for reproduction, just to name a few. Every disorder of the endocrine system is called endocrine disruption. The plastic materials that water bottles are made of include some chemicals that may cause endocrine disruption. These chemicals include bisphenol A and phthalates. These chemicals can leach out of the plastic bottles into the water we drink! This occurs most often when bottled water is exposed to very low or high temperatures or when the water has been in the bottles for a long time [6] (Figure 2). Bisphenol A and phthalates have been found in drinking water worldwide¹.

How Do Bisphenol A and Phtalates Affect the Endocrine System?

To the cells of the body, bisphenol A and phthalates look quite similar to the natural hormones of the reproductive system, so these chemicals can confuse our cells when they are present in high concentrations. For example, when the cells of the reproductive system bind to these chemicals, the chemicals generate abnormal responses in the cells and can even stimulate the growth of cancer cells (Figure 2). The effects of some endocrine disrupters have been shown in laboratory rats, which have the system pretty similar to ours, but the effects of these endocrine disrupters in humans remain uncertain and still being studied [9].

Many chemicals in bottled water do not cause these negative effects immediately, because they are only present in low concentrations in the water. But the problem is that some of these chemicals may stick around in our bodies for a long time. As we continue to drink bottled water with chemical contamination, endocrine disrupters may build up in our bodies and eventually affect the endocrine system.

The Global Bottled Water Problem: What Should We Do?

Who does not want to drink a good bottle of water? Most people believe that bottled water is some of the safest water to drink. It is also very practical! However, more and more research is showing that bottled water might cause problems both for humans, as you have just learned, and for the environment (Figure 3). So, what can we do to keep ourselves and the environment safe?

First, protect your own health! Try to use glass or metal bottles instead of plastic, when possible. This will help to reduce plastic pollution, too! If you are using plastic water bottles, try to find some that are bisphenol free. When reusing plastic water bottles, make sure they do not have cracks that may give bacteria places to grow. Last, make sure your bottled water is not exposed to extreme temperature changes. Freezing the bottles or leaving them in a hot car or exposed to sunlight can cause the chemicals in the plastic to leach into the water.

In terms of the environment, use of bottled water may cause pollution from plastics and microplastics (tiny pieces of plastic that come off bottles as they break down). Plastic bottles are recyclable, but recycling requires a lot of effort and energy, and unfortunately the process is not very fast or efficient. Plastic pollution is a global issue that affects both wildlife and human health [6, 10]. Bisphenol A and phthalates are also found in other plastic-based products, such as toys, baby bottles, paints, and food packaging. Because these chemicals may be harmful, some countries ban them from plastic products [8].

Changing our manufacturing processes and making better choices about what we use, eat, and drink will help to protect humans and the environment from endocrine disrupters and the hundreds of other potentially dangerous chemicals that we currently use. The European Green Deal, for example, aims to reduce carbon emissions and chemical use. Maybe someday this treaty will be extended across the whole world! It is a good choice to reevaluate our habits—both those involving our use of bottled water and our overall ways of manufacturing many plastic-containing products. Sharing this knowledge with our family and friends is essential. Together, by small steps, we may improve human and environmental health.

Glossary

Biological Contamination: ↑ Presence of microorganisms that may harm us or the environment.

Chemical Contamination: ↑ Chemicals that may harm us or the environment.

Endocrine Disruptor: ↑ Substances that may disturb the endocrine system functioning.

Endocrine System: ↑ The system responsible for producing hormones.

Hormones: ↑ The substances that are responsible for coordinating functions in the human body, such as development and survival.

Bisphenol a: ↑ A substance used in the manufacture of plastic-based products such as bottles, toys, containers, and medical/dental products.

Phthalate: ↑ A substance used in many plastic products that helps to make the plastic flexible.

Reproductive System: ↑ The system responsible for reproduction, i.e., produce new generations.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brasil (CAPES) - finance Code 001 - and Departamento de Inovação da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (inovUERJ). We are thankful for the suggestions and support of the young reviewer Fin.

Footnote

1. ↑ If you want to know more about these chemicals, check out [7, 8].